Scampton Airshow Binned
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,880
Received 2,823 Likes
on
1,203 Posts
Reason I could see were
Overpriced puts punters off, absolutely cr*p aircraft attendance, poor support from the RAF, big gaps in the display..heck I went to Cosford and we had one Typhoon, a Chinook, Grob, Dead Sparrows, a Klingair, A Herc flyby and a 400 flyby, plus a pongo Apache, if it wasnt for the civilian visitors and the fact the punters could visit the museum it was a dead loss. Why the likes of the Herc and A400 cannot display is beyond me, you burn hours and fuel getting it there to fly across the front of the crowd and then gone.... Just like Scampton!
I do believe if you knock the price down to make it more affordable you will increase revenue with a greater attendance.
Does this mean the fire museum can have their hangar back?
Overpriced puts punters off, absolutely cr*p aircraft attendance, poor support from the RAF, big gaps in the display..heck I went to Cosford and we had one Typhoon, a Chinook, Grob, Dead Sparrows, a Klingair, A Herc flyby and a 400 flyby, plus a pongo Apache, if it wasnt for the civilian visitors and the fact the punters could visit the museum it was a dead loss. Why the likes of the Herc and A400 cannot display is beyond me, you burn hours and fuel getting it there to fly across the front of the crowd and then gone.... Just like Scampton!
I do believe if you knock the price down to make it more affordable you will increase revenue with a greater attendance.
Does this mean the fire museum can have their hangar back?
CF-188A Highlight
I agree the RIAT prices did not reflect the quality or quantity of the show..disappointing, bar the only highlights there for me were the LNAA new AW169 and RCAF CF-188 Hornet (my photos below)
See what 2019 brings, if the show goes ahead..
Btw I thought the base had few dilapidated buildings in serious need of refurb or repair.
cheers
See what 2019 brings, if the show goes ahead..
Btw I thought the base had few dilapidated buildings in serious need of refurb or repair.
cheers
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: In a hold
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
.
I think RIAT is the place to be these days - I just swallow the price and hope for a cloud base above 2000’. Everything else for a mix of aircraft seems effected by rules/regs/pricing and quality of display. At least RIAT attracts most global air power. Let’s hope for a good 2018!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Longton, Lancs, UK
Age: 80
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Along with a couple of ex-RAF mates, I attended on the Saturday.
All of us thought it to be overpriced, given the poor content of both the flying and static displays. The latter had virtually no 'labelling', and there was a dearth of operators on hand to chat with.
We paid for admittance to the Lincoln enclosure which was also disappointing. Very limited table seating, and the quality of the buffet left much to be desired.
On the plus side, access and departure was well organised; and the attitude of the volunteers was commendable.
Hope RIAT 2018 comes up trumps.
All of us thought it to be overpriced, given the poor content of both the flying and static displays. The latter had virtually no 'labelling', and there was a dearth of operators on hand to chat with.
We paid for admittance to the Lincoln enclosure which was also disappointing. Very limited table seating, and the quality of the buffet left much to be desired.
On the plus side, access and departure was well organised; and the attitude of the volunteers was commendable.
Hope RIAT 2018 comes up trumps.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
I feel privileged to have been born and lived my formative years in what was probably the best ever time for airshows.
Farnborough 1960s et al, military and civilian.
At least the Cold War era did have one advantage!
Nothing now comes close.
Farnborough 1960s et al, military and civilian.
At least the Cold War era did have one advantage!
Nothing now comes close.
Along with a couple of ex-RAF mates, I attended on the Saturday.
All of us thought it to be overpriced, given the poor content of both the flying and static displays. The latter had virtually no 'labelling', and there was a dearth of operators on hand to chat with.
We paid for admittance to the Lincoln enclosure which was also disappointing. Very limited table seating, and the quality of the buffet left much to be desired.
On the plus side, access and departure was well organised; and the attitude of the volunteers was commendable.
Hope RIAT 2018 comes up trumps.
All of us thought it to be overpriced, given the poor content of both the flying and static displays. The latter had virtually no 'labelling', and there was a dearth of operators on hand to chat with.
We paid for admittance to the Lincoln enclosure which was also disappointing. Very limited table seating, and the quality of the buffet left much to be desired.
On the plus side, access and departure was well organised; and the attitude of the volunteers was commendable.
Hope RIAT 2018 comes up trumps.
Last edited by Melchett01; 16th Dec 2017 at 21:47.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,880
Received 2,823 Likes
on
1,203 Posts
Yep the one thing that always comes across to me as a positive in all the shows I visit is the Aircadets, indeed all the cadet forces, they work for nothing and do a superb job, marshalling traffic and generally being where needed, hats off to them all, one saved me quite a bit of Money when I lost my lens cover off a lens.
As ex RAF as I have said before I thought the 2016 Cosford show air content was an embarrassment to the RAF with the poor content, even allowing for the weather. I realise the current generation of new punters probably haven't seen the likes of a Battle of Britain at home show or a Riat of the 70's etc where it would be a packed show from start to finish and the end of the Coldwar probably put paid to those, but a show with poor content, large gaps and poor commentary seem the norm these days.
As ex RAF as I have said before I thought the 2016 Cosford show air content was an embarrassment to the RAF with the poor content, even allowing for the weather. I realise the current generation of new punters probably haven't seen the likes of a Battle of Britain at home show or a Riat of the 70's etc where it would be a packed show from start to finish and the end of the Coldwar probably put paid to those, but a show with poor content, large gaps and poor commentary seem the norm these days.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
BGG, agree. A show I organised 30 years ago had too many events if that be possible.
VC10k and two F2 together. 4 F4 and 4 F2 together. C141 static. 12 Spitfire, Lancaster, Mustang, Mosquito and so on.
Oh F6, A10,
VC10k and two F2 together. 4 F4 and 4 F2 together. C141 static. 12 Spitfire, Lancaster, Mustang, Mosquito and so on.
Oh F6, A10,
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,880
Received 2,823 Likes
on
1,203 Posts
Maybe it’s time to let if go and realise that, in the main, the sort of air shows that you reminisce about, are simply a thing of the past. Times have changed, the RAF has changed, what people want has changed, acceptance of risk has changed, along with a whole host of other things. Perhaps you just need to accept that those days have long gone and maybe stop droning on (pissing in the wind) about it.
Just a thought.
BGG
Just a thought.
BGG
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Longton, Lancs, UK
Age: 80
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
BIG
Agree - aside from your unnecessary last sentence (we're all entitled to a view).
Also agree with Nut. Change is inevitable, loss of quality is not.
PN - disagree (unless you were tongue in cheek!)
Agree - aside from your unnecessary last sentence (we're all entitled to a view).
Also agree with Nut. Change is inevitable, loss of quality is not.
PN - disagree (unless you were tongue in cheek!)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Jind, indeed TIC. The problem we had was organising slot times. Every minute was accounted for with slots organised for several recoveries and departures between displays. Absolutely no slack. BAe at one point wanted to despatch an F3. They had to wait and take an opportunity slot. Then we had an approach end RHAG engagement and a race to clear the active while a display continued above.
The Static was also maxed with aircraft parked under the 141.
The Static was also maxed with aircraft parked under the 141.
French Air Force seem to do shows rather well. Parking in local shopping zone (shops close Sundays), or ar Rochefort on the runway at the old naval airfield down the road, free Air Force bus to show. €10 max entry fee, kids free. Most expensive lunch about €6, sausage and frites or a huge cheese and ham baguette, and easy back to parking again in the free bus. Families see it as a day out and love it. lots of "spotters" too.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Wander, did they have heavy metal display with more than a Singleton? One year at Waddo we had an ACMI Det. We asked the French if they could fly their F1. They said they were display qualified and did a superb pairs display. It was by far the most impressive of the FJ displays largely because it was a pair.
They usually display all they have - also for little "village" air shows (more like "fete with flying " but good fun) they usually produce something out of the hat. However, I believe they have disbanded the 4-ship Epsilon team that was always very good value
A lot of the continental shows are certainly attracting the UK spotters and enthusiasts now. The variety of attending aircraft is certainly better, while the cost is definitely more bang for your buck, even when taking into account travel and hotels etc.
Living near Duxford, their airshows seem to be getting bigger and better. Some of the aircraft there are unique - never to be seen elsewhere.
May seems to be an air extravaganza with a mixed fleet and the September one is a one off - full of piston engined warplanes. And even if it rains - 2 of the biggest aviation museums in europe I would guess?
What's there not to like:
May seems to be an air extravaganza with a mixed fleet and the September one is a one off - full of piston engined warplanes. And even if it rains - 2 of the biggest aviation museums in europe I would guess?
What's there not to like: